Trent Richardson in the Pulpit

Posted on November 2, 2011 by Jay F Guin

The supportive hoots and chants stopped, the applause quieted and suddenly the sanctuary of Pine Forest United Methodist Church fell into rapt silence.

Trent Richardson was at the pulpit.

Great story about Trent speaking at a Methodist Church in his home town.

(For unfamiliar with such things, Trent is the All America running back who is going to lead Alabama to victory over LSU.)

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Everything Must Change: Introduction

Posted on November 2, 2011 by Jay F Guin

In 2007, Brian McLaren published Everything Must Change: When the World’s Biggest Problems and Jesus’ Good News Collide. It was a controversial book at the time, but made little impact on evangelical teaching.

However, we are now experiencing the Occupy Wall Street movement and similar movements around the globe. People are upset with the current economic structures, and many theologians are reconsidering their unquestioning endorsement of American capitalism. And so it’s time to take a fresh look at McLaren’s book.

Shane Claiborne was recently asked what he thinks about Occupy Wall Street. He responded, Continue reading →

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What Must the Church of Christ Do to Be Saved? Chapter 13

Posted on November 1, 2011 by Jay F Guin

We’re working our way through Leroy Garrett’s book: What Must the Church of Christ Do to Be Saved? The paperback is $7.95, but it’s also available in Kindle edition for $0.99. For $0.99, it’s really an offer you can’t refuse!

Now, by “saved” Garrett doesn’t mean that he questions the salvation of the individual members of the Churches of Christ. Rather, he is concerned to save the Churches of Christ as a “viable witness to the Christian faith. What must it do to escape extinction in the decades ahead …?”

Chapter 13 is entitled “Come to terms with our status as a denomination.” Continue reading →

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Community Disciplines: Dallas Willard on Asceticism

Posted on October 31, 2011 by Jay F Guin

My thinking on spiritual disciplines is affected by some bad experiences. I have to admit it, you know.

I guess the most significant experience happened back in the 1970s when my church was under the influence of the “Crossroads Movement,” which later become the “Boston Movement” and later the International Churches of Christ.

The idea back then was you had to have a “prayer partner” and a “quiet time.” You must start your day with a Bible study and prayer time — or else. But “or else” what?

I remember an elders and deacons meeting with the ministers who were teaching this. Obvious enough, having someone to pray with is a good thing. Starting the day with a time of quiet prayer and reflection is good. Yes, these are very good things indeed. Continue reading →

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Resident Aliens: Chapter 2, Christian Politics in the New World, Part 1

Posted on October 30, 2011 by Jay F Guin

We’re working our way through Resident Aliens: Life in the Christian Colony by Stanley Hauerwas and William H. Williamson, published in 1989.

American church was said, by commentators like Martin Marty, to consist of two types—the “public” church and the “private” church. The “private” church were those conservative evangelicals who thought that the business of the church was to stick to saving souls and to concern itself with the purely private world of religion. The “public” church (including our denomination) felt that Christians were obligated to go public with their social agenda, working within given social structures to make a better society. Continue reading →

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What Must the Church of Christ Do to Be Saved? Chapter 12

Posted on October 29, 2011 by Jay F Guin

We’re working our way through Leroy Garrett’s book: What Must the Church of Christ Do to Be Saved? The paperback is $7.95, but it’s also available in Kindle edition for $0.99. For $0.99, it’s really an offer you can’t refuse!

Now, by “saved” Garrett doesn’t mean that he questions the salvation of the individual members of the Churches of Christ. Rather, he is concerned to save the Churches of Christ as a “viable witness to the Christian faith. What must it do to escape extinction in the decades ahead …?”

Chapter 12 is entitled “Abandon our claim to exclusive truth.” Continue reading →

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Thought Question: Is Having Multiple Worship Styles Yielding to Consumerism? A Response

Posted on October 28, 2011 by Jay F Guin

Royce wrote,

The Christian assembly was never intended to be attractive to unbelievers.

Should it be attractive to our children?

Or only to our oldest members?

Assuming God doesn’t care whether our music is folk, blues, a march tune, or organum, whose taste is the deciding taste?

In my opinion, the answer is found in,

(Rom 12:10 ESV) 10 Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Continue reading →

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Kent Shaffer’s Top 200 Blogs

Posted on October 28, 2011 by Jay F Guin

church relevanceKent Shaffer periodically publishes a list of the Top 200 Christian blogs, regardless of denomination, in his blog “Church Relevance.”

He takes 5 easily available indicators of web traffic and averages them. OneInJesus.info shows up at 133, a little higher than the last time. Matt Dabbs’ “Kingdom Living” also makes the list.

I have to point out that Edward Fudge and Al Maxey don’t appear because their web sites aren’t blogs.

If you host a blog that has numbers similar to those shown on the list, you’ll want to let Kent know in the comments to his post, so he can include you in his next survey. Surely the hardest part of what he does is find the blogs to rank.

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Thought Question: God’s Leading

Posted on October 27, 2011 by Jay F Guin

I’ve become a fan of Dan Bouchelle’s “Confessions of a Former Preacher.” I want to draw the readers’ attention to a three-part series he’s posted on prayer.

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Continue reading →

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Thought Question: Is Having Multiple Worship Styles Yielding to Consumerism?

Posted on October 26, 2011 by Jay F Guin

Ed Stetzer is a consultant on church growth as well as a researcher, author, and popular speaker on the subject. He’s as expert as they come. And he’s written a thought-provoking article on churches having multiple worship services that reflect differing styles.

He’s not questioning the decision to have multiple services, which is usually dictated by the desire to grow without having to spend many millions on expanded space. Rather, when a church choose to have multiple styles, does that indicate a sinful heart within its members?

After a few years of “worship wars,” many churches decided to create multiple services based primarily on worship styles or worship preferences. As a result, the “Traditional Service,” which normally had the backing of the older members (often with those who gave most of the financial support to the church), got the coveted 11:00 AM time slot, while the younger members (with little children) had to drag themselves and their half-dressed, unfed kids to church by 8:00 AM or earlier in some cases. … Continue reading →

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